Journey to Hogwarts
Harry and George spent the next two weeks preparing for school. Dumbledore wrote back rather quickly, accepting them both into Hogwarts;
Dear Mr George Frederick Peverell,
First of all, I am sorry to hear about the death of yours and your brother’s parents. Know that the staff here at Hogwarts are more than happy to help you with anything you need during this trying time.
Secondly I would be honoured to give you and your brother a place in our esteemed establishment. I have added you to the list of fifth year students, I will just need you to send along your personal details so that I can make it official. You will both be sorted into your Houses after the first years. I have included a list of the books and other supplies needed for your classes, as well as your tickets for the train.
When you get off the train, please go with the first years and Hagrid so that we can sort you at the same time and with minimal fuss.
Have you met any of your classmates yet? If not I can arrange a meeting with some promising students for you so you have some friends before hand? Just let me know. And let me know if you have any questions about the classes, the school, or anything. I am more than happy to help you with your needs.
See you on the 1st of September.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,
Headmaster of Hogwarts, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Order of Merlin First Class, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards.
They didn’t write back to him, but they had the goblins send him their official documents as proof of identity and so he had their details.
But they did get all their school books, and other equipment, and read through them all so they were prepared. They also learned a bit extra from the books in the library of their home so that they could be a tad more advanced in certain lessons.
They also spent time making sure they had some prank items ready, just in case. Including some extendable ears, because Merlin knew that they could only come in handy during times like these.
It was tough, though. For both of them.
Making the pranks, or just getting them from the vault, reminded them both of Fred, and… Merlin it hurt.
Sometimes him and George needed to take a moment to curl up together and cry. Hedwig joined them, of course, pecking them both affectionately and mothering them in ways that only an owl can.
To be honest, though, that just made Harry cry more.
It struck Harry on the thirtieth of August that they should probably see about getting some family rings to protect them from whatever they can protect themselves from.
He kicked himself for not thinking of it earlier.
Though he supposed that he wasn’t really used to all this business that comes with being part of an old House.
They went to the bank and were soon donned with rings that would protect them from mind altering substances and many spells also. Harry was also the new Lord Peverell, and George his Heir. So they had two new layers of protection against the old fool. They were also, in some ways, in charge of the Potter and Gaunt families, though he needed to do more reading on that to be sure of what his duties were in that regard. And just his duties as a Lord in general. He had no clue what he was doing. But he would get there with a little help from the goblins, his brother, and hopefully their friends.
But if it meant that he could keep James Potter in line, in whatever way he could, then that was for the better, wasn’t it?
He just hoped it was in a way that could protect Severus from him properly.
“Do you think either of us could claim back the Hallows?” Harry asked George as they arrived back at their home.
George thought about it for a moment, “I mean, they are, technically, Peverell family property. They just got split up because everyone thought the Peverell family was dead. And because the Elder Wand can choose its master? But then, surely we can claim it back and it will come, right? If not then we could just disarm or kill Dumbledore and whichever of us does it will be the new master. With the cloak and stone, though, we can just write to them and demand them back, right, as Head of the respective families? We would have to research it. But it would be great to have two of each of the items on hand. One for each of us. It will come in handy, I think,”
Harry nodded, “Very handy indeed. But it also means that James can’t use the cloak to sneak up on Severus, or other students. Or for whatever else he does with it. And it means we can destroy the Horcrux in the ring if we demand it back. And the extra cloak will be great for protection,” Harry smirked, “And George, I didn’t realise you were so bloodthirsty,”
“Yes, well, he’s the reason everything went wrong in the world, so he bloody deserves it,” George huffed.
“I know,” Harry chuckled darkly, “But we can’t just go killing highly influential people, unfortunately. Unless it is in self defence. But we have to get him to break his façade for him to do anything we can remotely legally defend ourselves or others against, and I doubt that will happen any time soon,”
And wasn’t that a bloody shame.
…
It was officially Monday the 1st of September and Harry and George were standing on the platform, looking at the red steam engine that was about to take them back to Hogwarts.
“This is weird,” George muttered.
“Mhm,” Harry hummed, looking around at all the families gathered and feeling distinctly terrified.
Merlin, he didn’t think he could do this.
He didn’t think he could go back there.
Not after everything.
“Harry,” George’s soft voice called through his panicked haze and Harry looked at him pleadingly.
“I-I can’t-”
“Harry, I know. I know this is difficult. I don’t want to go back there either. Too many bad memories. I get it. But we are here, together. We aren’t alone. And… I know it’s a lot, the burden we have placed upon ourselves. It’s going to be difficult, I know. But I believe we can do this, Harry. But the first step is getting onto that train so we can protect our family from the things neither of us want to happen to them. We have so many people who already believe in us, and we can, if we just take it one step at a time. And the first step is to get onto that train,” George held Harry’s hand and squeezed it gently.
Harry took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded, although the distinct fear of going back to that place was still haunting his mind.
Merlin, they had to step into the Great Hall as if nothing had happened there. As if Fred wasn’t there, and Remus and Tonks, and Lavender, and Colin, and…
He shook his head and attempted to clear his mind as George slowly led him over to the train and into an empty compartment.
As soon as the door was closed behind them Harry crumbled onto a seat and tried desperately not to cry, or scream, or whatever. But he couldn’t stop the tears, or the sobs as he broke at the mere thought of having to step into the school that held so many terrible memories for them both.
George held him, also struggling himself.
“It’s okay, Harry. We can do this. We can get through this. We can make new memories. Better memories. With our family. We can help them. Protect them. And we can be safe, eventually. Happy,” George whispered, sounding as if he was trying to convince himself as well as Harry.
“Erm, are you two okay?” a gentle voice broke through the silence, causing Harry and George to jump up and spin around to face the group of students standing in the door looking at them with worried eyes.
Then their eyes locked on one person and the three of them gasped, in awe and pain, as a bond lit up between them.